GCF and LCM

Description

Prepare your students for fractions with a lesson about Greatest Common Factors and Least Common Multiples.  The lesson reviews all related vocabulary and offers multiple practice examples for teachers to work through with their students.  The lesson includes a practical activity that applies the concepts of GCF and LCM to reading and collecting data from calendars.

Sample Classroom Procedures: 

1. Begin by explaining to students the difference between multiples (skip counting by a number) and factors (the numbers used in multiplication facts).
2. While reading the content pages, reinforce vocabulary and give students additional examples of GCF and LCM problems in order to help them practice the new skills.  Use the additional resources to enhance understanding.
3. Introduce the notes on GCF and LCM. Have students practice problems using multiplication facts and prime factorization.  Use the additional resources to enhance understanding.
4. Have students practice problems with a partner.
5. Follow Activity page with students. Hand out calendars for each student and tell a short story using the prompts in the activity.  Check for understanding after each story.
6. Distribute Practice page. Check and review the students’ responses as a class.
7. Distribute the Homework page. Have students brainstorm ideas for their stories.  Share the stories at the beginning of the next class.
8. In closing, ask students to repeat the difference between a factor and a multiple.
9. Allow for responses and discussion.

Common Core State Standards: 

CCSS.Math.Content.6.G.A.3

Class Sessions (45 minutes): 1 class session

Additional Resources:

• https://www.mathsisfun.com/greatest-common-factor.html
• http://www.calculatorsoup.com/calculators/math/gcf.php
• http://www.math.com/school/subject1/lessons/S1U3L3DP.html
• https://www.mathsisfun.com/least-common-multiple.html

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